Smith Place mixed-use development withdrawn

By Abigail Adams aadams@wickedlocal.com

Wednesday

Oct 10, 2018 at 9:45 AMOct 11, 2018 at 10:44 AM

The Cohasset Planning Board accepted the withdrawal of an application to build a mixed-use development at 2 Smith Place Wednesday, in front of dozens of concerned residents who have been attending hearings on the proposed project for months. The application was withdrawn without prejudice, meaning a revised version of the project can still be brought before the town should the applicant wish to do so.

Developer John Tedeschi had no comment as to why the application was withdrawn or what the future holds for the proposal.

The building planned for 2 Smith Place included 17 units of one and two-bedroom housing in addition to one unit of retail space on the first floor. Axiom Architects, Inc. of Hanover had recently been brought on by the applicant to frame the project and was awarded the design on Sept. 24. A new access driveway had recently been added to the proposal via 1 Pleasant Street to help ease the amount of traffic accessing the site from Smith Place.

Residents opposed to the development, who turned out in numbers for Wednesday's meeting were pleased to learn the application had been withdrawn, applauding the board’s unanimous decision to accept the withdrawal. Project opponents have raised concerns about traffic troubles caused by Smith Place development, which would be located near the new units recently developed on James Lane. Many residents worry that adding residential units to the area will further congest traffic on a part of the road that is already considered dangerous.

Flooding is another concern. Smith Place resident Wendy Mazer, whose property abuts the proposed complex is still dissatisfied with the efforts to prevent further storm water from flowing on to her property, which already floods during regular rain events.

Stormwater management has been identified as a major issue with the development which abuts the James Brook culvert. Much of the run-off from the property would have flown into drains and catch basins and have to be treated by a storm water separator before flowing into the culvert and running into Cohasset Harbor.

Follow updates on the Smith Place development on cohasset.wickedlocal.com and in next week's Cohasset Mariner.